Starter for internal-combustion engines



H. DA COSTA START ER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Nov; 6, 1945.

Filed April 3, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HARRY DA COST/1 Nov. 6, 1945. H. DA COSTA 2,333,469

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 3, 1942. 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY DA COSTA an M Nov, 6,-1945. H. DA COSTA 2,388,469

STARTER FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 3, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 3 //vv/vToR:

HARRY DA C0574 ever, are so well known that more than a mere' diagrammatic representation is unnecessary.

The lay shaft 25, at that endremote from the I auxiliary engine l0, carries a pinion 35 which meshes with an internally toothed wheel 36 car'- ried on a driven shaft 31. The forward end of the latter, that is to say, the end remote from the auxiliary engine II], is connected by means of a friction clutch 38 with a sleeve 39 which is rotatable on the shaft 31 and is integral with a sun pinion 40 of an epicyclic reduction gear. This pinion meshes with planetary pinions-4l rotatable on a planet carrier 42 which itself isrotatable onsleeve 39 and is integral with another sun pinion 43 of a second epicyclic reduction gear. Planetary pinions 44 co-operating with the sun wheel 43 are rotatable on a second planet carrier 45 which is also mounted for rotation on sleeve 39. The planet pinions M and 44 ofboth epicyclicgears mesh with internally toothed rings 46 and 41 respectively fixed in the housing l6.

Th planet carrier 45 has a tubular extension formed with a plurality of spaced inclined ramps 48 and these ramps engage with teeth 49 provided on the inner end of a starter dog 50 which itself comprises a tubular portion within which the-friction clutch 38 is located. Initial rotation of the planet carrier 45 produces, by co-operation between the inclined portions of the ramps 48 and teeth 49 lengthwise movement of the starter dog 59 to engage it with a cooperating dog (not shown) on the engine to be started; The ramps 48 terminate in abutments 52 whichco-operate with portions of the teeth 49 on the starter dog so as'to rotate the latter after it has been moved endwise into engagement with the dog on the engine to be started. 7 i

The cylinder 36 is connected by means of a pipe 53 to a cartridge firing chamber diagrammatically indicated at 54 in Figure 2 having for instance an automatic feeding and firing mechanism such, for example, as that described in the specification ofprior British Letters Patent 'No. 51 United States application Serial No. 375,967.

The auxiliary engine is provided with a carburettor 55 preferably of the floatless type and with ignition means of any convenient form which ispreferably independent of any external device and may therefore consist of a magneto 56 ofthe fly-wheel type for instance electrically connected to aspark plug 51 for the cylinder 10.

.The auxiliary engine .will normally be cold on starting butv will quickly heat up and in consequence it is advisable to reduce the richness of, the fuel supplied to the engine during the time the auxiliary engine isrunning from the start. Forthis purpose avalve58, Figure 3, for controlling the richness of the fuel supplied to the auxiliary engine is automatically controlled by the engine so that after a given time of running,

which may be of the order of four or five seconds, the fuel mixture is automatically weakened. This may'occur gradually so as to ensure continued proper running of the auxiliary engine. For this purpose-there is employed according to'one arrangement as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, a valve 58 which se rves'to' strangle the air supply to the carburettor 55, or the induction system of the auxiliary engine, and this valve is biased by a spring 59 towards a closed or partly closed the engine crankcase l1.

piston 62 working in a cylinder 63, the interior of which communicates through a passage 64 to A control valve 65 is inserted in the connection between the passage 64 and the interior of the cylinder 63 and in this connection there is a non-return valve 66. A small bleed passage 61 is provided between cylinder 63andpassage 64.

In operation of this device, on starting the auxiliary engine, crankcase compression is applied to the interior of the cylinder 63 and gradually builds up. In consequence piston. 62. is moved to'operate the strangler valve 58 against the action of its biasing spring 59 so as gradually to weaken the fuel mixture supplied to the auxiliary engine. The control valve 65 serves to regulate the rapiditywith which pressure builds up in cylinder 63 and consequently the rate at which the strangler valve is turned to weaken the mixture for a given engine speed. Valve 65 may, therefore, be adjusted according to the conditions of operation and the'characteristics of the auxiliary engine. A relief valve 68 is provided in the crankcase l! to be opened when the auxiliary engine stops andsto. permit gas pressure in cylinder 63 to escape through bleed passage 61 and relief valve 68.. .Thus, in the event of an unsuccessful attempt to start the auxiliary engine the strangler valve will immediately be returned to a position providing a rich fuel mixture. One relief valve 68 also serves to drain the crankcase under conditions in which the auxiliary engine is of the two-stroke .typein which crankcase compression is utilised for the induction system.

For control of the starting apparatus there is preferably employed a single control member diagrammatically indicated at 69 having, for example, a pull knob 10 or, alternatively, an electric switch for putting. the starting apparatus into. and outof operation. The details of construction and arrangement ofzthe device 69 and its .actionon the various partsit controls may be modified in many ways, and it sufilces for the present description merely to indicate by diagram the operations. which it is intended to perform. For instance, the knob I0 is arrangedthrough a connection II .to close relief valve v68; through a connection 12. to switch on the ignition for the auxiliaryengine; through a connection 13 to open a valve '14 controlling fuelsupply to the engine; and through aconnection 15 to operate the cartridge feeding and firing mechanism. The operations will preferably be performed in the orderabove stated. Stopping of the auxiliary engine may be-effectedby releasing th pull knob .or by manually returning it to its initial or starting position. As stated above, the control may be either mechanical, electricahhydraulic or pneumatic providedthat. the functions performed by the apparatus are those just described. It will be-understood that to commence turningthe engine to bestarted the apparatus according to this invention will function as follows. Firing of a ,cartridge'provldes a gas pressure which is supplied to Cylinder'30'and this pressure acting on piston3l turns the lay shaft 25 through a part of a revolution and thus turns the auxiliary engine through the reduction gearing 20 to 24, As-

fsuming the auxiliary engineto have been started,

continued rotation of that engine is'permltted by :aaesgaeo: 4 3

a. iree wheelideviceg Btand fiurtherfrotation ot: the shaft is continued. by ithe drive frozmthe engine-amine: applied through gearfii ring gear 36-; clutch: and .thetwo following: epicyolic, gears lili to 41;: to the; starterrdog 510: which. as above stated, .will'-be.=movedi the initialilrotation first; t engages the tin-operating dog. (not illuse tl'flilfldil QBE thE GHgmELtOJbEFSCtaBtEdi and .wilhther.efore, 1min: that; dog" andnthe shaft 01 the last.- named engine. On the startingzofrthmmain en.- gine; thadog; f or: the: latteroverridesa the starter dog amticansesedisengagement between; them to takeiplaoe.

seem that; rotation. ofithe .auxiliarn 'ensine: immediately connects-:the dI'iYBithIDU-hl the startendog to the engine. tozibe. started. It; is. well knomns. that; for: internalecombusticn. engines, the torque remains substantially constant throu h.- out a; widerangeof speeds and consequentlnit. is propnsedsin this apparatus that thezauxiliaryrenrzines should; take up the loadof; theengineto' be startedsimmediately uponthestarting oi the anxengine.

mernatiye n the; auxiliaryv ens-momma Ice-permitiieds. to reach; am appreciablespeed before the load; isuanpliedy for which purpose the arrange.- ment illustrated: in Figures l andmay beuemp oyed. In this: casa. asi-n the previousexample, rotamylmovements imparted to; shaft: 2 through enres andrthe shaft. I12: drives .the: change-speed Kean. coup-ling itzw-ith, the lay-shaft, ZEwthrough themedium; ofs. a centrifugal clutch. The clutch comprises; a: clutch. disc: 80r and: centrifugal: clutch nlnteszfll I j which. are; freato; move-under centrifugal action; to bring. surfaces; such. as 82 into frictional driving engagement with an, overhanging flange 83. provided at: thep phem of: the. clutch disc: 80:. The plates-Marenormally drawntowardsoneam other andto the declutched: positiomby meansssof tension; springs: 88; and are guided; on and; driven by pins. 8.4- extending; from theflnwheelal9iinto slotsai iothe: plates Whenthesneed Qfithe auxiliam engine, has. attained the. desired: value the plates:.8(twi-111be en ed. with flange; 83 sufiicient- 1y .fihmlil" to-driverdisc Blband one member-.86 of a (103;? clutch-L which. is, formed integrally withthe disc: The; other member 8'! of thedog; clutch is integrahwith the sleeve carrying, gears. 2.1: and ll-and; any preferred means may be: provided-to shift sleeve 20 to change the drive speed imparted torthexlay shaft, '25 through: the change speed aeaarinse The entrifiugal; clutch) above described may .be c nsidered: as; typical of any preferred form:v of sheedl' operated clutch by which. the. auxiliary ensine:v W lli be allowed to run, up. toa predetermined speechbefore taking; up the load represented by the turning: otter; of the; main.' engine for starting Purp ses; 1

The finictional torque ofthe. engine to-be. started mnds-verylarsely p n temperature conditions and the changespeed-gear 20.120 24 isproyid'ed. so

that. agear ratio. can beselected accordihgtotemperatu-ra conditions sucl-r that. the. delivered;- torque ofithe auxiliary engi ewill always. be. greater than the.- frictional. torque. of the. engine. to be started 7 Any prefi'erre'di means. therefore :b e

providediforr operation by: the-auxiliary enaine'to swttclnofii the on to operateeatthrottle in! stoppingrthe-auxi'liary enginetanchsucha a control should be arranged to ouerri'deathamanualleons woman... ltrwilliihefturtherrrealisect that;the noitlimiizedto theaspecifici constmctiomcit. annamr tlmihereihbefblltei described; "Eon. control. @emewmermmmm tor thenanxiliarys en ine? malt befoperated a by eentrifuganmeansadrivem engme itselfior: by: a. timing. means; instead ofv the. action: ofi piston. 625m the-.example-illustratedi Iaclaimz. Y

Apparatus; fora starting a maim intemala combustion engine compm'sine; im an. auxiliary internal-combustion mob tiom-transmissionzmeanstor-.1 coupling mm: engines t'fli the: main engine including: Bi res leesable. couplingi member at reductioneaflflr' train --interposed between thee auxiliary; engine and; the: coupling member, a cartridge-operated power device; motion-transmission. means opera atively connecting the power device witln the auxiliary: ermine and serving to. start; letter, at cartridge firing mechanism; means: serving to conditinnthe auxiliary engine for running, and. a control: member operatively connected to said firihg meeh anism-and to said conditioning means wherebythesinglie-control member serves 20 -868 thestarter 1 apparatus fully into operation; conditioning means including anigniti'orrswitch for the auxii i-ary engine and means to control the suppli? of fuel to the auxiliary engine; the. ignitionswitch and fuel con-trol means each hawi'-ng--operativeconnections with-- said" control member. v r

2; Apparatus for starting a main internalcombusti'on engine comprising; incombination; an auxiliary internal-combustionengine; mo tion-tra-nsmission means for coupling the auxi-li'ary" engine to the main engine includinga releasabl'e-couplingmemberand a reduction-gear train interposed between the auxiliary" engine and the coupling member, a cartridge-operated powerdevice; motion-transmission means opera-- tively connecting the power device with the auxiliary engine and serving to start the latten a cartridge-firing" mechanism; means serving to condition the auxiliary engine-for running; and a control member operatively connectem' tosaid firing mechanism and t'osaid conditionhig: means. whereby the single control memberservestoset the starter'apparatus fully into operation; said conditioning means including an ignition switch; fuel control mea-ns, andmeans for opening and closing a relief valve in the crankcase or the auxiliary engine; each of said ignition switch; fuel control means, and opening 'andi closing means, havingoperative. connectionv with said control: member.

3a Apparatus for; starting; a maiminternalcombustion:- engine; comprising, in, combination, an. auxiliary internal-combustion. engine; mo; thin-transmission means. for coupling. the; aux iliar engine to the. main engineincluding'are, leasable coupling member and a. reduction-gear train interposed between the auxiliar engine and; the coupling mem ber, a cartridge-operated power device, motion-transmission means operatively: connecting. the. power device with the auxiliary engine and serving. to. start the. latter, a. cartridgepfiring mechanism. an. ignition switch anda iuels up ti control; means. for the amt.- iliary engine, a'cartiidge-firing control" member switch to said fuel-supply controlmeans', and to the cartridge-firing mechanism, whereby. said control member serves to set the starter apparatusfullyintooperation. l.

4. Apparatus for starting a main internal-v combustion engine comprising, in combination, an auxiliary internal-combustion engine, motion-transmission means forcoupling theauxe iliary engine-to the main engine including areleasable coupling member and a reduction-gear train interposed between the auxiliary engine and the coupling member, a, cartridgeroperated power device, motion-transmission means'operatively connecting the power device with the auxiliary engine and serving to start the latter, a cartridge-firing mechanism, an ignition switch and a fuel-supply control means for the auxiliary engine, ,a relief :valve in the auxiliary engine crankcase, a cartridge-firing control member 01)- eratively connected to said mechanism, to said switch, to said fuel-supply control means, and to said meansnfor opening and closing the relief valve. 5... Apparatus for starting a main internalcombustion engine comprising, in combination, an ,auxiliary internal-combustion engine, motion-transmission meansincluding a centrifugal clutch for coupling the auxiliary engine to the main engine, said means also including a releasable coupling member and a reduction-gear train interposed between the auxiliary engine and the coupling member, a cartridge-operated power device and a second motion-transmission means operatively connectingithe powerdevice with the auxiliary engine and serving to start the latter. GVApparatus-fQr starting a main internal-combustion engine comprising, in combination, an auxiliary internal-combustion enginewhich is additional to the main engine, means for coupling it to themain engine including a reduction gear train, .a cartridge-operated device operatively connected with and serving to start the auxiliary engine, cartridge-firing mechanism, means serv ingto condition the auxiliary engine for running, and a single control-member operatively con nected to said firing mechanism and to saidauxiliary engine conditioning means, whereby said single control-member serves to set the starter apparatus fully into operation.

;7. Apparatus for starting a main internal-combustion engine, comprising, in combination, an auxiliary internal-combustion engine which is additional to the main engine, me ans coupling it to the main engine including a reduction gear train, and a cartridge-operated device operativelyconnected with and serving to start the auxiliary engine, said cartridge-operated device comprisingapiston and cylinder combined with a crank operated by the said piston, said crank being freely rotatable on a lay-shaft, a freewheel mechanism mounted on said lay-shaft, and gearing. connecting said freewheel mechanism with the shaft of the auxiliary engine-said freebustion engine comprising, combination, an

auxiliary internal-combustion engine which is additional to the main engine, means coupling it to the main engine including a reduction gear ,train, and a cartridge-operated device operativethe input element of the operatively connected to. said mechanism, to said;

lyiconnected with and serving to start-the auxiliary engine, said cartridge-operated device comprising a piston and cylinder combined with a lay-shaft having a crank thereon with the pistonconnected to said crank, a freewheel mechanism and gearing coupling the crank to the shaft of the auxiliary engine, and change-speed gearin carried by said lay-shaft and constituting a part of the coupling between the auxiliar en-v gine and themain engine.

9. Apparatus for starting a main internal-combustion engine comprising, in combination, an auxiliary internal-combustion enginewhichf is additional to the main engine, means for connectingit to the main engine including a coupling means a reduction gear train interposed between the auxiliary engine and the coupling means, and a cartridge-operated device operatively connected with and serving to start the auxiliary engine, said cartridge-operated device comprising a piston and cylinder combined with a lay-shaft having a crank freely rotatable thereon and to which the piston is connected, and means including freewheel mechanism coupling the crank t0 the shaft of the auxiliary-engine, change-speed gearing coupling the lay-shaft to the auxiliary engine, and epicyclic gearing coupling the lay-shaft to the coupling means.

10'. Apparatus for starting a main internalcombustion engine comprising, in combination, an auxiliary internal-combustion engine which is additional to the main engine, means for connecting it to the main engine including a coupling means, a reduction gear train interposed between the auxiliary engine and the coupling means, and a cartridge-operated device operatively connectedwith and serving to start the auxiliary engine, said cartridge-operated device comprising a piston and cylinder combined with a lay-shaft having a crank thereon to which the piston is connected, freewheel mechanism coupling' the lay-shaft to the auxiliary engine, change-speed gearing also coupling the lay-shaft to the auxiliary engine, epicyclic gearing coupling the lay-shaft to the main engine, and a friction clutch interposed between the output member of the epicyclic gearin and a part of the coupling means through which torque from the auxiliary engine is transmitted to the main en-' gme.

11. Apparatus for starting a main internalcombustion engine, comprising, in combination, an auxiliary internal-combustion engine which is additional to the main engine, means coupling it to the main engine including'a reduction gear train, a cartridge-operated device operatively connected with and servin to start the auxiliary engine, a lay-shaft operatively connected to the cartridge-operating device, and means including a freewheel mechanism for coupling the cartridge-operated device to the shaft of the auxiliary engine, change-speed gear coupling the lay-shaft to the shaft of the auxiliary engine, epicyclic gearing coupling the lay-shaft to a coupling member, said couplin membercompri sing an auxiliary movable toothed clutch member having inclined toothed surfaces to cooperate with corresponding surfaces on a companion clutch member coupled to'the shaft of the auxiliary engine through said epicyclic gearing and change-speed earing, and a friction clutch interposed' between the change-speed earing .and

epicyclic gearing...

HARRYQA COSTA. 

